Fan guard



Feb. 2, 1960 I E. N. SHUNKWILER 2,923,463

' FAN GUARD Filed July 13, 1956 Fig./

,0 Fig. 2

Eva /V. -$hunkwi/er IN V EN TOR.

BY QM v Q Fig.3

United States Patent FAN GUARD Eva N. Shunkwiler, Miles City, Mont.

Application July 13, 1956, Serial No. 597,774

4 Claims. (Cl. 230-275) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in fan guards for use particularly among children and has for its primary objective to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means for preventing the frequent injuries which are sustained by contacting the blades through the usual wire guard of the fan.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a protector of the aforementioned character which is adapted to be expeditiously mounted for use on the usual fan guard and readily removed therefrom for cleaning or storage when desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an easily removable, foldable electric fan guard or protector of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a view in rear elevation of a fan guard constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of an electric fan showing, in vertical section, a guard embodying the present invention mounted thereon;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through the lower portion of the device, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 5 designates a conventional electric fan. The fan 5 includes the usual base 6 having mounted thereon a motor 7. Mounted on the motor 7 and driven thereby are the blades 8 of the fan, said blades being operable in a wire guard 9 mounted on the motor 7.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a flexible, foldable cover which is adapted to be removably mounted on and enclose the guard 9 with the blades 8 therein, said cover being designated generally by reference character 10. The cover 10 is foraminous and said cover may be of plastic screening or other suitable material. Further, the cover 10, which is normally flat, conforms substantially to the fan guard 9 when mounted thereon.

The cover 10, which may also be of any desired color, comprises a front 11 in the form of a disk and a back 12 in the form of a split ring. Thus, an opening 13 is provided in the back 12 which accommodates the electric motor 7, together with a slit or opening 14 which extends from said opening 13 to the periphery of the back 12 to facilitate mounting said cover on the guard 9 in an obvious manner. A binding tape 15 is provided on the walls or edges of the back 12 which define the opening 13 and the slit 14.

The upper portions of the front and back 11 and 12, respectively, of the cover 10 are sewed together and taped,

as indicated at 16. Then, the lower portions of the front and back 11 and 12 of the cover 10 are detachably sccured together by a pair of Zipper fasteners 17.

It is thought that the use of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the Zipper fasteners 17 are opened to facilitate mounting the cover 10 on the fan guard 9. The fasteners 17 are then closed for securing the foraminous cover 10 snugly on the guard 9. Suitable separable fasteners 18 are provided for closing the upper end of the slit 14 thus further securing the device in position on the guard 9. As hereinbefore stated, the opening 13 accommodates the forward end portion of the fan motor 7. The open ends of the fasteners 17 are lowermost or adjacent to each other, thus bringing the operators or pull tabs 19 together when said fasteners are closed. The pull tabs 19 are apertured, as usual, and said tabs may, if desired, be connected by a suitable small lock for preventing unauthorized opening of the fasteners 17. Of course, to remove the device for cleaning, storage or other purposes the fasteners 17 are opened and the fasteners 18 are disconnected.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 7 principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A removable envelope type cover for a fan guard of the type comprising a drum-shaped wire cage mounted on the motor of a fan in turn being mounted on a base member, said cage having its rims transversely curved to a cover configuration; said cover being constructed of a pliable material readily permeable to air comprising an envelope-like structure enclosing said guard and of generally circular shape, front and back walls having circular edges meeting in a plane lying medially of said cover and of said guard, said back wall having an opening receiving and embracing the end of said motor and having its front wall unbroken and completely overlying the front face of said guard, said edges being permanently united by a seam extending partially about their circumference and being temporarily united by a pair of slide fasteners extending about the remainder of their circumference, each of said fasteners having an operator therefor, said operators being juxtaposed when said fasteners are in the closed position whereby said operators may be releasably secured together for preventing unauthorized removal of said cover.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said back wall has a slot therein extending from said opening to the edge of said back wall forming separable portions, means engaging the material of said back wall on opposite sides of said slot for securing said portions of said back wall together.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said securing means comprises a first element disposed adjacent the junction of said slot and said opening, and a second element disposed adjacent the junction of said slot and said edge.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said second element is disposed exteriorly of said envelope and said edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,751,793 Cook Mar. 25, 1930 2,763,428 Selah Sept. 18, 1956 2,812,900 Matthews Nov. 12, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Electrical Merch ndising, page 3, February 1950. 

